Radio communication apparatus, processor, and communication control method

ABSTRACT

A radio communication apparatus according to a first aspect is an apparatus for supporting cellular communication and wireless LAN communication. A protocol stack for the cellular communication includes: a cellular lower layer including a physical layer and a MAC layer; and a cellular upper layer higher than the MAC layer. The radio communication apparatus comprises a controller configured to set a specific mode using a protocol stack of the wireless LAN communication instead of the cellular lower layer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus, aprocessor, and a communication control method which are used in acellular communication system.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, user terminals (so-called dual terminals) forsupporting cellular communication and wireless LAN communication havebeen widely used. Further, wireless LAN access points (which will besimply called “access point” below) managed by an operator of a cellularcommunication system have increased.

Thus, there will be considered a technique capable of enhancing acooperation between a cellular communication system and a wireless LANsystem in the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) as a standardproject of the cellular communication systems (see Non-Patent Literature1).

CITATION LIST Non Patent Literature

Non Patent Literature 1: 3GPP Contribution RP-1201455

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

For example, traffics exchanged between a user terminal and a basestation in cellular communication are switched to be exchanged between auser terminal and an access point in wireless LAN communication, therebyreducing (offloading) traffic loads in a cellular communication system.

However, when such switching is performed, various settings for startingwireless LAN communication need to be performed between the userterminal and the access point. Therefore, the cellular communicationsystem is difficult to offload rapidly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a radiocommunication apparatus, a processor, and a communication control methodwhich are capable of rapidly offloading a cellular communication system.

A radio communication apparatus according to a first aspect is anapparatus for supporting cellular communication and wireless LANcommunication. A protocol stack for the cellular communication includes:a cellular lower layer including a physical layer and a MAC layer; and acellular upper layer higher than the MAC layer. The radio communicationapparatus comprises a controller configured to set a specific mode usinga protocol stack of the wireless LAN communication instead of thecellular lower layer.

A processor according to a second aspect is provided in a radiocommunication apparatus for supporting cellular communication andwireless LAN communication. A protocol stack for the cellularcommunication includes: a cellular lower layer including a physicallayer and a MAC layer; and a cellular upper layer higher than the MAClayer. The processor sets a specific mode using a protocol stack of thewireless LAN communication instead of the cellular lower layer.

A communication control method according to a third aspect is used in aradio communication apparatus for supporting cellular communication andwireless LAN communication. A protocol stack for the cellularcommunication includes: a cellular lower layer including a physicallayer and a MAC layer; and a cellular upper layer higher than the MAClayer. The communication control method comprises a step of setting aspecific mode using a protocol stack of the wireless LAN communicationinstead of the cellular lower layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware block of UE (User terminal)according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware block of an eNB (basestation) according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware block of an AP (accesspoint) according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a protocol stack diagram of a radio interface in a cellularcommunication system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a software block of an eNB according tothe embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a software block of a UE according tothe embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Overview of Embodiment

A radio communication apparatus according to embodiments is an apparatusfor supporting cellular communication and wireless LAN communication. Aprotocol stack for the cellular communication includes: a cellular lowerlayer including a physical layer and a MAC layer; and a cellular upperlayer higher than the MAC layer. The radio communication apparatuscomprises a controller configured to set a specific mode using aprotocol stack of the wireless LAN communication instead of the cellularlower layer.

In the embodiments, the controller selects either the specific modeusing the cellular upper layer or a normal mode not using the cellularupper layer, as a mode for the wireless LAN communication.

In the embodiments, when traffics exchanged in the wireless LANcommunication are directed to switch from the cellular communication tothe wireless LAN communication, the controller selects the specificmode.

In the embodiments, when traffics exchanged in the wireless LANcommunication are not directed to switch from the cellular communicationto the wireless LAN communication, the controller selects the normalmode.

In the embodiments, the cellular upper layer includes a RLC (Radio LinkControl) layer.

In the embodiments, the cellular upper layer includes a PDCP (PacketData Convergence Protocol) layer.

A processor according to embodiments is provided in a radiocommunication apparatus for supporting cellular communication andwireless LAN communication. A protocol stack for the cellularcommunication includes: a cellular lower layer including a physicallayer and a MAC layer; and a cellular upper layer higher than the MAClayer. The processor sets a specific mode using a protocol stack of thewireless LAN communication instead of the cellular lower layer.

A communication control method according to embodiments is used in aradio communication apparatus for supporting cellular communication andwireless LAN communication. A protocol stack for the cellularcommunication includes: a cellular lower layer including a physicallayer and a MAC layer; and a cellular upper layer higher than the MAClayer. The communication control method comprises a step of setting aspecific mode using a protocol stack of the wireless LAN communicationinstead of the cellular lower layer.

Embodiment

Each embodiment in which a cellular communication system (LTE system)configured conforming to the 3GPP standard is associated with a wirelessLAN (WLAN) system will be described below with reference to thedrawings.

(1) Entire Configuration

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to the embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the cellular communication system includes aplurality of UEs (User Equipments) 100, E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTSTerrestrial Radio Access Network) 10, and EPC (Evolved Packet Core) 20.The E-UTRAN 10 corresponds to a radio access network. The EPC 20corresponds to a core network.

The UE 100 is a mobile radio communication apparatus and performs radiocommunication with a cell with which a connection is established. The UE100 corresponds to a user terminal. The UE 100 is a terminal (dualterminal) that supports both communication schemes of cellularcommunication and WLAN communication.

The E-UTRAN 10 includes a plurality of eNBs 200 (evolved Node-Bs). TheeNB 200 is fixed radio communication apparatus and corresponds to a basestation (cellular base station). The eNB 200 manages one or a pluralityof cells and performs radio communication with the UE 100 whichestablishes a connection with the cell of the eNB 200. It is noted thatthe “cell” is used as a term indicating a minimum unit of a radiocommunication area, and is also used as a term indicating a function ofperforming radio communication with the UE 100. Further, the eNB 200,for example, has a radio resource management (RRM) function, a routingfunction of user data, and a measurement control function for mobilitycontrol and scheduling.

The eNBs 200 are connected mutually via an X2 interface. Further, theeNB 200 is connected to MME/S-GW 500 included in the EPC 20 via an S1interface.

The EPC 20 includes a plurality of MME (Mobility ManagementEntity)/S-GWs (Serving-Gateways) 500. The MME is a network node thatperforms various mobility controls and the like, for the UE 100 andcorresponds to a control station. The S-GW is a network node thatperforms transfer control of user data and corresponds to a switchingstation.

The WLAN system includes WLAN AP (hereinafter referred to as “AP”) 300.The WLAN system is configured to be in compliance with various IEEE802.11 specifications, for example. The AP 300 communicates with the UE100 in a frequency band (WLAN frequency band) different from a cellularfrequency band. The AP 300 is connected to the EPC 20 via a router, etc.

However, it is not limited to the case in which the eNB 200 and the AP300 are individually collocated. The eNB 200 and the AP 300 may also becollocated at the same place. The eNB 200 and the AP 300 may be directlyconnected to each other through an arbitrary interface of an operator.

The EPC 20 further includes a cellular authentication server 600 forperforming an authentication for UE 100 in the cellular communicationsystem, and a WLAN authentication server 700 for performing anauthentication for UE 100 in the WLAN system. When the authentication bythe cellular authentication server 600 is succeeded, the UE 100 canconnect to the cellular communication system. When the authentication bythe WLAN authentication server 700 is succeeded, the UE 100 can connectto the WLAN system.

(2) Hardware Configuration of UE 100

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the UE 100. As illustrated in FIG.2, the UE 100 includes: antennas 101 and 102; a cellular transceiver111; a WLAN transceiver 112; a user interface 120; a GNSS (GlobalNavigation Satellite System) receiver 130; a battery 140; a memory 150;and a processor 160. The memory 150 and the processor 160 constitute acontrol unit. The UE 100 may not have the GNSS receiver 130.Furthermore, the memory 150 may be integrally formed with the processor160, and this set (that is, a chipset) may be called a processor 160′.

The antenna 101 and the cellular transceiver 111 are used fortransmitting and receiving cellular radio signals. The cellulartransceiver 111 converts a baseband signal output from the processor 160into the cellular radio signal, and transmits the same from the antenna101. Further, the cellular transceiver 111 converts the cellular radiosignal received by the antenna 101 into the baseband signal, and outputsthe same to the processor 160.

The antenna 102 and the WLAN transceiver 112 are used for transmittingand receiving WLAN radio signals. The WLAN transceiver 112 converts thebaseband signal output from the processor 160 into a WLAN radio signal,and transmits the same from the antenna 102. Further, the WLANtransceiver 112 converts the WLAN radio signal received by the antenna102 into a baseband signal, and outputs the same to the processor 160.

A MAC address (hereinafter referred to as “WLAN MAC-ID”) is allocated tothe WLAN transceiver 112, as an identifier of the UE 100 in the WLANsystem. The WLAN MAC-ID is included in WLAN radio signals transmittedand received by the WLAN transceiver 112.

The user interface 120 is an interface with a user carrying the UE 100,and includes, for example, a display, a microphone, a speaker, andvarious buttons. Upon receipt of the input from a user, the userinterface 120 outputs a signal indicating a content of the input to theprocessor 160. The GNSS receiver 130 receives a GNSS signal in order toobtain location information indicating a geographical location of the UE100, and outputs the received signal to the processor 160. The battery140 accumulates a power to be supplied to each block of the UE 100.

The memory 150 stores a program to be executed by the processor 160 andinformation to be used for processes by the processor 160. The processor160 includes a baseband processor that performs modulation anddemodulation, encoding and decoding and the like on the baseband signaland a CPU that performs various processes by executing the programstored in the memory 150. The processor 160 may further include a codecthat performs encoding and decoding on audio and video signals. Theprocessor 160 executes various processes and various communicationprotocols described later.

(3) Hardware Configuration of ENB 200

FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram of the eNB 200. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the eNB 200 includes an antenna 201, a cellular transceiver 211,a network interface 220, a memory 230, and a processor 240. The memory230 and the processor 240 constitute a control unit. The memory 230 andthe processor 240 constitute a control unit. Furthermore, the memory 230may be integrally formed with the processor 240, and this set (that is,a chipset) may be called a processor.

The antenna 201 and the cellular transceiver 211 are used fortransmitting and receiving a cellular radio signal. The cellulartransceiver 211 converts the baseband signal output from the processor240 into the cellular radio signal, and transmits the same from theantenna 201. Furthermore, the cellular transceiver 211 converts thecellular radio signal received by the antenna 201 into the basebandsignal, and outputs the same to the processor 240.

The network interface 220 is connected to the neighboring eNB 200 via anX2 interface and is connected to the MME/S-GW 500 via the S1 interface.Further, the network interface 220 is used for communication with the AP300 via the EPC 20.

The memory 230 stores a program to be executed by the processor 240 andinformation to be used for a process by the processor 240. The processor240 includes a baseband processor that performs modulation anddemodulation, encoding and decoding and the like on the baseband signaland a CPU that performs various processes by executing the programstored in the memory 230. The processor 240 implements various processesand various communication protocols described later.

Collocated-based eNB 200 may include functions of AP 300. In this case,the eNB 200 further includes an antenna 202 and a WLAN transceiver 212which are used for transmitting and receiving WLAN radio signals. TheWLAN transceiver 212 converts the baseband signal output from theprocessor 240 into the cellular radio signal, and transmits the samefrom the antenna 202. Furthermore, the WLAN transceiver 212 converts thecellular radio signal received by the antenna 202 into the basebandsignal, and outputs the same to the processor 240.

(4) Hardware Configuration of AP 300

FIG. 4 is a hardware block diagram of the AP 300. As illustrated in FIG.4, the AP 300 includes an antenna 301, a WLAN transceiver 311, a networkinterface 320, a memory 330, and a processor 340.

The antenna 301 and the WLAN transceiver 311 are used for transmittingand receiving WLAN radio signals. The WLAN transceiver 311 converts thebaseband signal output from the processor 340 into the WLAN radio signaland transmits the same from the antenna 301. Further, the WLANtransceiver 311 converts the WLAN radio signal received by the antenna301 into the baseband signal and outputs the same to the processor 340.

The network interface 320 is connected to the EPC 20 via a router, etc.Further, the network interface 320 is used for communication with theeNB 200 via the EPC 20.

The memory 330 stores a program to be executed by the processor 340 andinformation to be used for a process by the processor 340. The processor340 includes a baseband processor that performs modulation anddemodulation, encoding and decoding and the like on the baseband signaland a CPU that performs various processes by executing the programstored in the memory 330.

(5) Cellular Protocol Stack

FIG. 5 is a protocol stack diagram of a radio interface in the cellularcommunication system. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the radio interfaceprotocol is classified into a layer 1 to a layer 3 of an OSI referencemodel, wherein the layer 1 is a physical (PHY) layer. The layer 2includes a MAC (Medium Access Control) layer, an RLC (Radio LinkControl) layer, and a PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol) layer. Thelayer 3 includes an RRC (Radio Resource Control) layer.

The PHY layer performs encoding and decoding, modulation anddemodulation, antenna mapping and demapping, and resource mapping anddemapping. Between the PHY layer of the UE 100 and the PHY layer of theeNB 200, data is transmitted via the physical channel.

The MAC layer performs priority control of data, and a retransmissionprocess and the like by hybrid ARQ (HARQ). Between the MAC layer of theUE 100 and the MAC layer of the eNB 200, data is transmitted via atransport channel. The MAC layer of the eNB 200 includes a schedulerthat selects a transport format (a transport block size, a modulationand coding scheme and the like) of an uplink and a downlink, and anassigned resource block.

The RLC layer transmits data to an RLC layer of a reception side byusing the functions of the MAC layer and the PHY layer. Between the RLClayer of the UE 100 and the RLC layer of the eNB 200, data istransmitted via a logical channel.

The PDCP layer performs header compression and decompression, andencryption and decryption.

The RRC layer is defined only in a control plane. Between the RRC layerof the UE 100 and the RRC layer of the eNB 200, a control message (anRRC message) for various types of setting is transmitted. The RRC layercontrols the logical channel, the transport channel, and the physicalchannel in response to establishment, re-establishment, and release of aradio bearer. When there is a connection (RRC connection) between theRRC of the UE 100 and the RRC of the eNB 200, the UE 100 is in aconnected state (RRC connected state), otherwise, the UE 100 is in anidle state (RRC idle state).

A NAS (Non-Access Stratum) layer positioned above the RRC layer performssession management, mobility management and the like.

(6) Software Configuration of Collocated-Based ENB 200

A software configuration of a Collocated-based eNB 200 will be describedbelow. As described above, the Collocated-based eNB 200 includes notonly the cellular transceiver 211 but also the WLAN transceiver 212 inthe hardware configuration.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a software block of the eNB 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the eNB 200 performs a processing of relayingtraffics (user data) between the EPC 20 and the UE 100. The processor240 in the eNB 200 performs cellular communication protocol stack. Thecellular communication protocol stack includes a physical layer 241, aMAC layer 242, and a RLC layer 243. As described above, the cellularcommunication protocol stack further includes a PDCP layer (and a RRClayer). According to the embodiment, the physical layer 241 and the MAClayer 242 configures a cellular lower layer, and the RLC layer 243 andthe PDCP layer configures a cellular upper layer.

In the cellular communication uplink, user data received by the cellulartransceiver 211 in the eNB 200 from the UE 100 is processed in thephysical layer 241, the MAC layer 242, the RLC layer 243, and the PDCPlayer in this order, and then is transmitted to the EPC 20 via thenetwork interface 220. On the other hand, in the cellular communicationdownlink, user data received by the network interface 220 in the eNB 200from the EPC 20 is processed in the PDCP layer, the RLC layer 243, theMAC layer 242, and the physical layer 241 in this order, and then istransmitted to the UE 100 via the cellular transceiver 211.

The processor 240 in the eNB 200 further performs WLAN communicationprotocol stack (WLAN protocol stack) 244. The WLAN protocol stack 244includes the physical layer and the MAC layer.

Generally, in the WLAN communication uplink, user data received by theWLAN transceiver 212 in the eNB 200 from the UE 100 is processed in theWLAN protocol stack 244, and then is transmitted to the EPC 20 via thenetwork interface 220. On the other hand, in the WLAN communicationdownlink, user data received by the network interface 220 in the eNB 200from the EPC 20 is processed in the WLAN protocol stack 244, and then istransmitted to the UE 100 via the WLAN transceiver 212. Such a generalWLAN communication mode will be called “normal mode.”

The processor 240 in the eNB 200 further executes the function of aselector 245 configured to select either the normal mode or the offloadmode (specific mode) as a mode of setting WLAN communication. Here,“offload mode” is a mode using the WLAN protocol stack 244 instead ofthe cellular lower layer (the physical layer 241 and the MAC layer 242).

The selector 245 selects either the normal mode or the offload mode withreference to a selection list 231 stored in the memory 230 in the eNB200. The selection list 231 is a list recording therein WLAN MAC-IDs ofthe UE 100 to which the offload mode is to be applied. For example, whenWLAN MAC-ID included in the uplink data processed in the WLAN protocolstack 244 is present in the selection list 231, the selector 245 passesthe uplink data to the cellular upper layer (the RLC layer 243 and thePDCP layer).

In the offload mode, in the WLAN communication uplink, user datareceived by the WLAN transceiver 212 in the eNB 200 from the UE 100 isprocessed in the WLAN protocol stack 244, then in the cellular upperlayer (the RLC layer 243 and the PDCP layer), and then is transmitted tothe EPC 20 via the network interface 220. On the other hand, in the WLANcommunication downlink, user data received by the network interface 220in the eNB 200 from the EPC 20 is processed in the cellular upper layer(the RLC layer 243 and the PDCP layer), then in the WLAN protocol stack244, and then is transmitted to the UE 100 via the WLAN transceiver 212.

In this way, the cellular upper layer is used in the offload mode, andthus the EPC 20 recognizes that the eNB 200 is making cellularcommunication although the eNB 200 is making WLAN communication.Therefore, when cellular communication is switched to WLAN communication(offload mode), authentication by the WLAN authentication server 700 canbe omitted.

(7) Software Configuration of UE 100

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a software block of the UE 100. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the processor 160 in the UE 100 executes anapplication 166 configured to exchange traffics (user data) with the EPC20 via the eNB 200.

Further, the processor 160 in the UE 100 performs cellular communicationprotocol stack. The cellular communication protocol stack includes aphysical layer 161, a MAC layer 162, and a RLC layer 163. As describedabove, the cellular communication protocol stack further includes a PDCPlayer (and a RRC layer). According to the embodiment, the physical layer161 and the MAC layer 162 configures a cellular lower layer, and the RLClayer 163 and the PDCP layer configures a cellular upper layer.

In the cellular communication uplink, user data generated in theapplication 166 is processed in the PDCP layer, the RLC layer 163, theMAC layer 162, and the physical layer 161 in this order, and then istransmitted to the eNB 200 via the cellular transceiver 111. On theother hand, in the cellular communication downlink, user data receivedby the cellular transceiver 111 in the UE 100 from the eNB 200 isprocessed in the physical layer 161, the MAC layer 162, the RLC layer163, and the PDCP layer in this order, and then is passed to theapplication 166.

The processor 160 in the UE 100 performs WLAN communication protocolstack (WLAN protocol stack) 164. The WLAN protocol stack 164 includesthe physical layer and the MAC layer.

Generally, in the WLAN communication uplink, user data generated in theapplication 166 is processed in the WLAN protocol stack 164, and then istransmitted to the eNB 200 via the WLAN transceiver 112. On the otherhand, in the WLAN communication downlink, user data received by the WLANtransceiver 112 in the UE 100 from the eNB 200 is processed in the WLANprotocol stack 164, and then is passed to the application 166. Such ageneral WLAN communication mode will be called “normal mode.”

The processor 160 in the UE 100 further executes the function of aselector 165 configured to select either the normal mode or the offloadmode (specific mode) as a mode of setting WLAN communication. Here,“offload mode” is a mode using the WLAN protocol stack 164 instead ofthe cellular lower layer (the physical layer 161 and the MAC layer 162).The selector 165 selects either the normal mode or the offload modedepending on whether it is in the offload.

In the offload mode, in the WLAN communication uplink, user datagenerated in the application 166 is processed in the cellular upperlayer (the RLC layer 163 and the PDCP layer), then in the WLAN protocolstack 164, and then is transmitted to the eNB 200 via the WLANtransceiver 112. On the other hand, in the WLAN communication downlink,user data received by the WLAN transceiver 112 in the UE 100 from theeNB 200 is processed in the WLAN protocol stack 164, then in thecellular upper layer (the RLC layer 163 and the PDCP layer), and then ispassed to the application 166.

(8) Operation According to Embodiment

The operations of the eNB 200 illustrated in FIG. 6 and the UE 100illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described below. There will be describedherein the operations when traffics exchanged between the UE 100 and theeNB 200 via cellular communication are switched for WLAN communicationthereby to offload cellular communication.

In the first step, the eNB 200 and the UE 100 make cellularcommunication. Specifically, the eNB 200 and the UE 100 exchange uplinkand downlink traffics.

In the second step, when a load level in cellular communication exceedsa threshold, for example, the eNB 200 decides to offload from cellularto WLAN. Here, a load level in cellular communication indicates trafficload in cellular communication, radio resource using rate in cellularcommunication, or the like.

In the third step, the eNB 200 transmits an offload command ofinstructing to offload from cellular to WLAN to the UE 100. When the UE100 exchanges a plurality of kinds of traffics (a plurality of bearers)with the eNB 200, the eNB 200 may include a traffic type (beareridentification information) to be offloaded in the offload command.

In the fourth step, the UE 100 selects the offload mode and starts WLANcommunication with the eNB 200 in response to reception of the offloadcommand. When the WLAN transceiver 112 is in the OFF state on receptionof the offload command, the UE 100 preferably switches the WLANtransceiver 112 to the ON state. The eNB 200 selects the offload modeand starts WLAN communication with the UE 100 in response totransmission of the offload command.

As described above, in the offload mode, the lower layer is switched toWLAN, but the upper layer is passed over to cellular. In the offloadmode, the EPC 20 recognizes that the eNB 200 is making cellularcommunication. Therefore, the eNB 200 and the UE 100 can smoothly(seamlessly) switch from cellular communication to WLAN communicationwithout complicated settings.

(9) Conclusion

The eNB 200 and the UE 100 set the offload mode using the WLAN protocolstack instead of the cellular lower layer, respectively. Thereby, theeNB 200 and the UE 100 can seamlessly switch from cellular communicationto WLAN communication without complicated settings.

According to the embodiment, the eNB 200 and the UE 100 select eitherthe offload mode using the cellular upper layer or the normal mode notusing the cellular upper layer as a mode for WLAN communication.Specifically, when traffics exchanged in WLAN communication are directedto switch from cellular communication to WLAN communication, the offloadmode is selected. On the other hand, when traffics exchanged in WLANcommunication are not directed to switch from cellular communication toWLAN communication, the normal mode is selected. Thereby, a mode forWLAN communication can be appropriately set.

According to the embodiment, the cellular upper layer includes the RLClayer and the PDCP layer. Thus, when cellular communication is switchedto WLAN communication (offload mode), the respective settings of the RLClayer and the PDCP layer can be passed over to WLAN communication,thereby seamlessly switching from cellular communication to WLANcommunication.

Other Embodiments

A type of the Collocated-based eNB 200 has not particularly been notedin the above embodiment, but the Collocated-based eNB 200 is preferablya micro-cell base station (such as home base station) configured tomanage as small a cell as a coverage of the AP 300. The cellularcoverage and the WLAN coverage are overlapped on each other, therebysmoothly offloading from cellular to WLAN.

The above embodiment assumes that the UE 100 supports WLANcommunication. However, the UE 100 not supporting WLAN communication isalso present, and thus when starting cellular communication or whenbeing requested from the eNB 200, the UE 100 may transmit information asto whether to support WLAN communication to the eNB 200.

According to the above embodiment, the mode using the WLAN protocolstack instead of the cellular lower layer is called offload mode and isused to offload from cellular to WLAN. However, such a mode may be usedto applications other than offloading.

The cellular communication system has been described by way of LTEsystem according to the above embodiment, but is not limited to the LTEsystem and the present invention may be applied to systems other thanthe LTE system.

The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application NO. 2013-091113(filed on Apr. 24, 2013) are incorporated herein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is useful in the field of radio communication.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A radio base station for supportingcellular communication and wireless local area network (WLAN)communication, wherein a protocol stack for the cellular communicationincludes: a cellular lower layer including a physical layer and a mediumaccess control (MAC) layer; and a cellular upper layer higher than theMAC layer, wherein the cellular upper layer includes a packet dataconvergence protocol (PDCP) layer, the radio base station comprises: acellular radio transceiver configured to transmit/receive cellular radiosignals to/from a user terminal, storage configured to store a pluralityof WLAN-related identifiers; and a controller configured to: set aspecific mode in which the PDCP layer of the cellular upper layertransmits or receives data to/from the user terminal via a protocolstack of the WLAN communication, transmit, to the user terminal via thecellular radio transceiver, bearer identification information thatspecifies a bearer to which the specific mode should be applied, receivethe data from the user terminal via the protocol stack of the WLANcommunication, determine whether the specific mode is applied to thereceived data based on whether a WLAN-related identifier included in thereceived data matches with a WLAN identifier of the plurality ofWLAN-related identifiers stored in the storage, wherein the WLAN-relatedidentifier included in the received data is used for the WLANcommunication, and in response to the specific mode being applied to thereceived data, process the received data at the PDCP layer.
 2. The radiobase station according to claim 1, wherein the controller selects eitherthe specific mode using the cellular upper layer or a normal mode notusing the cellular upper layer, as a mode for the WLAN communication. 3.The radio base station according to claim 1, wherein the controllerreceives capability information related to the WLAN communication of auser terminal with which the radio base station communicates, from theuser terminal.
 4. The radio base station according to claim 1, whereinthe radio base station comprises a WLAN radio transceiver configured totransmit/receive WLAN radio signals to/from the user terminal, and thedata of the user terminal is transmitted or received via the WLAN radiotransceiver in the specific mode.
 5. The radio base station according toclaim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: switch the bearer fromthe cellular communication to the WLAN communication of the specificmode, and maintain setting of the PDCP layer without changing thesetting, even if the bearer is switched from the cellular communicationto the WLAN communication of the specific mode.
 6. The radio basestation according to claim 1, wherein, in the response to the specificmode being applied to the received data, the controller is configured totransmit the received data from the upper layer to the PDCP layerwithout passing through the cellular lower layer.
 7. A processorcommunicatively coupled to memory containing stored instructions, theprocessor and memory for operating a radio base station for supportingcellular communication and wireless local area network (WLAN)communication, wherein a protocol stack for the cellular communicationincludes: a cellular lower layer including a physical layer and a mediumaccess control (MAC) layer; and a cellular upper layer higher than theMAC layer, wherein the cellular upper layer includes a packet dataconvergence protocol (PDCP) layer, the processor is configured toexecute the stored instructions to perform processes oftransmitting/receiving cellular radio signals to/from a user terminal,setting a specific mode in which the PDCP layer of the cellular upperlayer transmits or receives data to/from the user terminal via aprotocol stack of the WLAN communication, transmitting, to the userterminal via the cellular radio transceiver, bearer identificationinformation that specifies a bearer to which the specific mode should beapplied, receiving the data from the user terminal via the protocolstack of the WLAN communication, determining whether the specific modeis applied to the received data based on whether a WLAN-relatedidentifier included in the received data matches with a WLAN-relatedidentifier of a plurality of WLAN-related identifiers stored in storageof the radio base station, wherein the WLAN-related identifier includedin the received data is used for the WLAN communication, and in responseto the specific mode being applied to the received data, processing thereceived data at the PDCP layer.
 8. The processor according to claim 7,wherein the processor is configured to execute the stored instructionsto perform processes of transmitting/receiving WLAN radio signalsto/from the user terminal, and transmitting or receiving the data of theuser terminal in the specific mode.
 9. The processor according to claim7, wherein the processor is configured to execute the storedinstructions to perform processes of: Switching the bearer from thecellular communication to the WLAN communication of the specific mode,and maintaining setting of the PDCP layer without changing the setting,even if the bearer is switched from the cellular communication to theWLAN communication of the specific mode.
 10. The processor according toclaim 7, wherein, in the response to the specific mode being applied tothe received data, the processor is configured to execute the storedinstructions to perform a process of transmitting the received data fromthe upper layer to the PDCP layer without passing through the cellularlower layer.
 11. A communication control method used in a radio basestation for supporting cellular communication and wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) communication and including a cellular radio transceiverconfigured to transmit/receive cellular radio signals to/from a userterminal, wherein a protocol stack for the cellular communicationincludes: a cellular lower layer including a physical layer and a mediumaccess control (MAC) layer; and a cellular upper layer higher than theMAC layer, wherein the cellular upper layer includes a packet dataconvergence protocol (PDCP) layer, the communication control methodcomprises steps of: setting a specific mode in which the PDCP layer ofthe cellular upper layer transmits or receives data to/from the userterminal via a protocol stack of the WLAN communication; transmitting,to the user terminal via the cellular radio transceiver, beareridentification information that specifies a bearer to which the specificmode should be applied, receiving the data of the user terminal via theprotocol stack of the WLAN communication, determining whether thespecific mode is applied to the received data based on whether aWLAN-related identifier included in the received data matches with aWLAN-related identifier of a plurality of WLAN-related identifiersstored in storage of the radio base station, wherein the WLAN-relatedidentifier included in the received data is used for the WLANcommunication, and in response to the specific mode being applied to thereceived data, processing the received data at the PDCP layer.
 12. Thecommunication control method according to claim 11, wherein the radiobase station includes a WLAN radio transceiver configured totransmit/receive WLAN radio signals to/from the user terminal, and thedata of the user terminal is transmitted or received via the WLAN radiotransceiver in the specific mode.
 13. The communication control methodaccording to claim 11, comprising the steps of: switching the bearerfrom the cellular communication to the WLAN communication of thespecific mode, and maintaining setting of the PDCP layer withoutchanging the setting, even if the bearer is switched from the cellularcommunication to the WLAN communication of the specific mode.
 14. Thecommunication control method according to claim 11, wherein in theresponse to the specific mode being applied to the received data, themethod further comprises transmitting the received data from the upperlayer to the PDCP layer without passing through the cellular lowerlayer.